Method and system for reducing blunt force trauma

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of the present invention relates to an armor insert, comprising: a fabric formed from a weave of fibers, wherein the fibers are E-glass; and a resin; wherein the fabric is suspended in the resin. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to an armor insert, comprising: a fabric formed from a weave of fibers, wherein the fibers are S-glass; and a resin; wherein the fabric is suspended in the resin.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/870,056, filed Dec. 14, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/883,631, filed Jan. 5, 2007 Each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus to reduce trauma and back face signature.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method to reduce trauma and back face signature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various bullet-resistant garments have been produced.

One such type of conventional bullet-resistant garment is known as “soft body armor”. Such soft body armor is typically formed of a relatively flexible material (e.g., woven KEVLAR fibers) which acts to provide the principal bullet-resistant characteristics of the garment.

Another type of conventional bullet-resistant garment is known as “hard body armor”. Such hard body armor is typically formed of relatively inflexible material (e.g., one or more ceramic plates) carried in pocket(s) in the garment. In this type of body armor the relatively inflexible material acts to provide the principal bullet-resistant characteristics of the garment.

Examples of patents relating to such soft body armor and hard body armor include the following: U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,297 to Atkins (entitled “Bullet Resistant Ballistic Panel Carrier Garment”); U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,020 to Dunn (entitled “Projectile Proof Vest”); U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,491 to Rasmussen (entitled “Method Of Fitting A Ballistic Panel Carrying Garment”); U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,802 to Small (entitled “Adaptive Ballistic Panel Carrying Garment”); U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,105 to Sacks (entitled “Protective Garment”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,594 to Yavin (entitled “Anti-Ballistic Ceramic Articles”); U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,832 to Colvin (entitled “Body Armor”); U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,974 to Lundblad et al. (entitled “Ballistic Resistant Article Comprising A Three Dimensional Interlocking Woven Fabric”); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,733 to Perciballi (entitled “Ceramic Armor Apparatus For Multiple Bullet Protection”).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the front of an armor insert according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the armor insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows another side view of the armor insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the armor insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the front of an armor insert according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the armor insert of FIG. 5.

Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures constitute a part of this specification and include illustrative embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments of the invention are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. In addition, any measurements, specifications and the like shown in the figures are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the front of an armor insert 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the armor insert 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows another side view of the armor insert 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the armor insert 100 of FIG. 1. As seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, the armor insert 100 may be contoured as desired (e.g. contoured to fit a person's body). The contouring may include a curve along a first axis and a curve along a second axis. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the front of an armor insert 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a side view of the armor insert 200 of FIG. 5. Again, as seen most clearly in FIG. 6, for example, the armor insert 200 may be contoured as desired (e.g. contoured to fit a person's body). The contouring may include a curve along a first axis and a curve along a second axis.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus to reduce trauma (e.g., blunt force trauma). Such blunt force trauma may be caused, for example, by a hard object or from blast over pressure (e.g., caused by an IED).

In one example, the present invention may comprise a semi-rigid/semi-soft armor insert that is placed behind soft body armor or hard body armor to reduce trauma and back face signature.

In another example, the present invention may comprise a semi-rigid/semi-soft armor insert with fibers suspended in a high concentrated resin system that gives protection against stab and/or over pressure energy when worn alone or behind soft armor.

In another example, the present invention may comprise a 3 dimensional weave of fibers suspended in a high resin content that creates structure to the material and allows for energy to be redirected (e.g., sideways).

In another example, the present invention may provide a wafer thin, lightweight armor system to protect against one or more of the following:

-   -   Engineered Shrapnel     -   Secondary Shrapnel     -   Overpressure Energy Wave     -   Blunt Trauma

In another example, the present invention may be deployed by being: (a) worn under conventional soft and/or hard body-armor to reduce trauma and injury; and/or (b) worn in pockets on BDU's to provide protection to extremities and other unprotected body parts.

In another example, the present invention may utilize E-Glass woven into a 3-D (3 dimensional) format that adds structure to the ply and space to suspend a high saturation of impact absorbing resin(s). In one specific example, resin content may exceed 28%.

In other examples, the present invention may provide for one thick layer or a multi-layer thin weave.

In yet other examples, the 3D glass utilized by the present invention may be selected from one or more of the following:

-   -   9oz weight per sq yd.     -   18 oz ″     -   25 oz ″     -   50 oz ″     -   77 oz ″     -   96 oz ″     -   100 oz ″

In yet other examples, the resin systems utilized by the present invention may comprise epoxy and/or polyester and may be selected from one or more of the following:

-   -   Lewcott EP-255, This is a toughened 250F epoxy system.     -   Lewcott LC-801. This is a thermoplastic resin system that is         inherently tough.     -   Lewcott EPT-2100. This is a highly toughened epoxy system.

In another example, the present invention may include a plurality of overlapping plies.

In another example, the present invention may utilize a plain weave, wherein a “plain weave” is a simple weave pattern made up of warp and fill fibers that are interlaced over and under each other in alternating fashion.

In another example, the present invention may be utilized in connection with backing of ceramic plates (e.g., ceramic rifle armor plates or hard body armor). Of note, when applied and adhered to the back of a ceramic plate the present invention may provide an increase in ballistic protection and a reduction in the back face signature and/or blunt trauma to the wearer.

In another example, the 3-D woven fibers may be applied and adhered to any desired type(s) of ceramic, including (but not limited to): Boron Carbide, Alumina Oxide, Silicone Carbide.

In another example, the present invention may be used in the context of any ceramic ballistic material that is backed by a 3-D high resin content material as a composite.

In another example, the fibers suspended in the resin may form a hard armor insert (e.g., after the resin dries or cures).

While a number of embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that these embodiments are illustrative only, and not restrictive, and that many modifications may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the present invention may protect against threat levels as high as IIIA, as defined by the U.S. National Institute of Justice Standard. Further, the fiberglass may be E-Glass and/or S-Glass (depending, for example, on cost constraints). Further still, the present invention may comprise a semi-rigid/semi soft armor insert that is used on its own to provide protection (e.g., not placed behind soft body armor or hard body armor to reduce trauma and back face signature). Further still, any steps described herein may be carried out in any desired order (and any additional steps may be added as desired and/or any steps may be deleted as desired). 

1. An apparatus for reducing trauma, comprising: a) an armor insert, the armor insert comprising: i) a fabric formed from a weave of fibers, wherein the fibers are E-glass; and ii) a resin, wherein the fabric is suspended in the resin; wherein the armor insert is a hard armor insert; wherein the armor insert is contoured to fit a person's body such that the armor insert is curved along at least a first axis; and b) a ceramic hard body armor plate; wherein at least a first side of the armor insert is configured to be disposed adjacent a backside of the ceramic hard body armor plate; and wherein at least the first side of the armor insert is adhered to the backside of the ceramic hard body armor plate.
 2. The armor insert of claim 1, wherein the weave pattern is made up of warp and fill fibers that are interlaced over and under each other in an alternating fashion.
 3. The armor insert of claim 1, wherein the fabric is formed from a three-dimensional weave of fibers.
 4. The armor insert of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a single layer.
 5. The armor insert of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a plurality of layers.
 6. The armor insert of claim 1, wherein the resin comprises epoxy.
 7. The armor insert of claim 1, wherein the resin comprises polyester.
 8. The armor insert of claim 1, wherein the resin comprises thermoplastic.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. An apparatus for reducing trauma, comprising: a) an armor insert, the armor insert comprising: a fabric formed from a weave of fibers, wherein the fibers are S-glass; and iii a resin, wherein the fabric is suspended in the resin; wherein the armor insert is a hard armor insert; wherein the armor insert is contoured to fit a person's body such that the armor insert is curved along at least a first axis; and b) a ceramic hard body armor plate; wherein at least a first side of the armor insert is configured to be disposed adjacent a backside of the ceramic hard body armor plate; and wherein at least the first side of the armor insert is adhered to the backside of the ceramic hard body armor plate.
 12. The armor insert of claim 11, wherein the weave pattern is made up of warp and fill fibers that are interlaced over and under each other in an alternating fashion.
 13. The armor insert of claim 11, wherein the fabric is formed from a three-dimensional weave of fibers.
 14. The armor insert of claim 11, wherein the fabric comprises a single layer.
 15. The armor insert of claim 11, wherein the fabric comprises a plurality of layers.
 16. The armor insert of claim 11, wherein the resin comprises epoxy.
 17. The armor insert of claim 11, wherein the resin comprises polyester.
 18. The armor insert of claim 11, wherein the resin comprises thermoplastic.
 19. (canceled)
 20. (canceled) 